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| Monday 14th October 2019 | ||
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Mainland Shetland scored a Black-throated Thrush at Scousburgh and a Brown Shrike at Grutness. Booted Warblers were found at Langdon Cliffs in Kent and on The Lizard in Cornwall. Two Red-flanked Bluetails arrived on Fair Isle, along with a Dusky Warbler. An Eastern Stonechat sp was on Burray in Orkney. Lingering rarities were the Common Nighthawk in Co.Antrim; Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly; American Black Tern in Dorset, Red-throated Pipit on Fair Isle, Eastern Stonechat sp in Shetland, Coues's Arctic Redpoll in Shetland, Lesser Scaup in Leicestershire, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde and Scilly, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co.Cork, Long-billed Dowitchers in Devon and Co.Louth. There was a report of the Great Snipe again in East Yorkshire flushed at Spurn but it could not be found in the evening. White-rumped Sandpipers continued in Dorset, Scilly, and Co.Galway, while in Western Isles South Uist's count increased to three and another arrived on the Ythan Estuary in Aberdeenshire. Other goodies included White-winged Black Tern (Co.Louth), Pallas's Warbler (Fair Isle), Melodious Warbler (Co.Cork), 11 Red-breasted Flycatchers, eight Barred Warblers, three Wrynecks, Great Grey Shrike (Northumberland), Short-toed Lark (Scilly), two Richard's Pipits, two Shorelarks, five Little Buntings, two Common Rosefinches, two Waxwings, three American Golden Plovers, two Spotted Crakes (Scilly and Shetland), Ring-billed Gull (Co.Galway), American Wigeon (Co.Durham), two Black Brants (Lincolnshire and Dorset), Todd's Canada Goose (Argyll), three Snow Geese, six Taiga Bean Geese (Forth), Tundra Bean Goose (Kent), Glossy Ibis (Devon), four Grey Phalaropes, Corncrake (Northumberland), Little Auk (Yorkshire), Iceland Gull (Western Isles) and Glaucous Gull (Shetland). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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Daily news summaries
Catch up with RBA's daily birdnews summaries. Browse ten days at a time, or choose a date to read summaries from that day backwards.
Daily summaries are available from 13 April 2006. For earlier weekly reviews, visit our articles.
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| Sunday 13th October 2019 | ||
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| For a couple of hours or so a Two-barred Greenish Warbler was on offer at Orford Quay in Suffolk, though it went missing soon after midday. Scilly hosted a Rose-breasted Grosbeak on St.Martin's. In Cornwall, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was near Bude at Crackington Haven for its second day. A showy Great Snipe performed on Beacon Lane in Kilnsea in East Yorkshire for the entire evening. Other finds included Brown Shrike, Red-throated Pipit and Eastern Stonechat sp on Fair Isle, Red-eyed Vireo on Lundy in Devon, Dusky Warbler in Cornwall, Subalpine Warbler sp in Scilly, Long-billed Dowitchers at Bannow Bay in Co.Wexford and Dundalk Docks in Co.Louth, and White-rumped Sandpipers at Lodmoor RSPB in Dorset, North Uist in Western Isles (two), Myroe in Co.Derry, Ferriter's Cove in Co.Kerry, Inishmore in Co.Galway and Leam Lough in Co.Mayo. Rarities extending their stays were the Common Nighthawk in Co.Antrim, Myrtle Warbler in Co.Galway, Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, Isabelline Wheatear in Shetland, American Black Tern in Dorset, Eastern Stonechat sp in Shetland; Red-eyed Vireos in East Yorkshire, Scilly (two), Cornwall and Co.Cork; Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Blue-winged Teal in Co.Wexford and Scilly, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Orkney, Lesser Scaup in Leicestershire, two Richardson's Cackling Geese in Western Isles, Snowy Owl in Shetland, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co.Cork, Long-billed Dowitcher in West Yorkshire, and White-rumped Sandpiper in Scilly. The supporting cast included White-winged Black Tern (Dorset), five Red-breasted Flycatchers, three Richard's Pipits, eight Barred Warblers, two Short-toed Larks (Scilly), four Shorelarks, two Red-backed Shrikes , two Great Grey Shrikes, two Little Buntings (Scilly), Melodious Warbler (Co.Cork), Rose-coloured Starling (Western Isles), two Wrynecks, four Waxwings (Shetland), five American Golden Plovers, Dotterel (Devon), Spotted Crake (Scilly), Rough-legged Buzzard (Cambridgeshire), two Lesser Snow Geese (Argyll), two Tundra Bean Geese (Kent), three Surf Scoters, three American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal (Orkney), Ring-necked Duck (Western Isles), Ring-billed Gull in Co.Galway, two Glossy Ibises, Long-tailed Skua (Cornwall), Leach's Petrel (Kent), three Little Auks, two Iceland Gulls (Highland), two Glaucous Gulls and six Grey Phalaropes. |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 12th October 2019 | ||
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| A busy autumn day was headlined by the discovery of a Myrtle Warbler
on Inishmore (Co Galway). Isles of Scilly continued to host the Blue Rock Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Blue-winged Teal, Red-eyed Vireos and Rustic Bunting, whilst a Red-throated Pipit and White-rumped Sandpiper were also discovered. Shetland produced lingering Lesser Grey Shrike, Isabelline Wheatear, Snowy Owl, Coues's Arctic Redpoll (another in Orkney) and Eastern Stonechat, whilst new rarities comprised Olive-backed Pipit, Blyth's Reed Warbler and Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll. New discoveries elsewhere included Hooded Mergansers (Norfolk and Staffordshire), Pallid Harrier (Nottinghamshire), Red-eyed Vireos (East Yorkshire, Pembrokeshire, Co Clare and Co Cork) Semipalmated Sandpiper (Aberdeenshire), Olive-backed Pipit (Co Cork), Baird's Sandpipers (Co Kerry and Co Wexford), White-rumped Sandpipers (Argyll [2], Co Galway and Co Sligo) and two Richardson's Cackling Geese (Western Isles). The Common Nighthawk (Co Antrim), Red-eyed Vireos (Cornwall and Co Cork), Kentish Plover (Norfolk), American Black Tern (Dorset), Snowy Owl in Western Isles, Blue-winged Teal (Clyde), White-rumped Sandpipers (Co Kerry [3] and Western Isles [2]), Lesser Scaup (Leicestershire) and Long-billed Dowitcher (West Yorkshire) all lingered. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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| Friday 11th October 2019 | ||
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Today's discoveries included a Baltimore Oriole at Lehanmore in Co.Cork, a flyby Hudsonian Whimbrel at Mousehole in Cornwall, Lesser Grey Shrike on Unst in Shetland, a new Blue-winged Teal on Tresco in Scilly, Red-eyed Vireos on Tresco in Scilly and on The Mullet in Co.Mayo, Rustic Bunting on St.Mary's in Scilly, and three White-rumped Sandpipers at Carrahane Strand in Co.Kerry. Still on offer were the Common Nighthawk in Co.Antrim, Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, Isabelline Wheatear in Shetland, American Black Tern in Dorset, Eastern Stonechat sp in Shetland, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Subalpine Warbler sp in Western Isles, White-rumped Sandpiper in Western Isles, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co.Cork, Lesser Scaup in Leicestershire; ongoing Red-eyed Vireos in Cornwall, Scilly and Co.Clare; and the existing Blue-winged Teal in Scilly (on St.Mary's), Scarcities included Spotted Crake (Scilly), Little Auk (Shetland), two Bluethroats, Richard's Pipit (Co.Durham), four Short-toed Larks, Common Rosefinch (Co.Cork), two Pallas's Warblers, two Little Buntings, five Red-breasted Flycatchers, four Barred Warblers, two Red-backed Shrikes, Great Grey Shrike (Northumberland), Hoopoe (Shetland), Shorelark (Suffolk), two Wrynecks, two Waxwings, Pectoral Sandpiper (Co.Derry), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Co.Galway), six American Golden Plovers, two Dotterel, three Snow Geese, two Surf Scoters, Leach's Petrel, three Sabine's Gulls, 12 Grey Phalaropes, five Long-tailed Skuas and Iceland Gull (Western Isles). |
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| - David Campbell, RBA | ||
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| Thursday 10th October 2019 | ||
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| The highlight of the day was on the Isles of Scilly where a Swainson's Thrush was seen briefly on St Mary's with
Blue Rock Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Short-toed Lark, Red-backed Shrike
and Spotted Crake all present on that island, an Arctic Warbler new on St Agnes, and both
Short-toed Lark and Red-breasted Flycatcher on Tresco. On the Shetland Isles the
Isabelline Wheatear remained on Out Skerries as did both the Eastern
Stonechat species and Pallas's Warbler on Unst, with a Short-toed Lark and
Bluethroat on Mainland, and Great Grey Shrike, Waxwing and two
American Golden Plovers around the islands. In Ireland the Common Nighthawk remained in County Antrim, as did single Red-eyed Vireos in both County Clare and County Waterford, Lesser Yellowlegs in County Cork and County Waterford, and Lesser Scaup in County Mayo. In Britain a White-throated Sparrow at Port of Southampton, Hampshire had arrived on board a cruise ship from Canada whilst other discoveries included a Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll and two White-rumped Sandpipers on the Western Isles and a Lesser Scaup in Leicestershire at Rutland Water. Lingering rarities confirmed as still present today were a Red-eyed Vireo in Cornwall, American Black Tern in Dorset, Subalpine Warbler species on the Western Isles, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, and Long-billed Dowitchers in both Devon and West Yorkshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Wednesday 9th October 2019 | ||
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| Ireland again brought the headline birds today with the Common Nighthawk still present in County Antrim,
Baltimore Oriole and two Baird's Sandpipers in County Mayo, Red-eyed
Vireo, Lesser Yellowlegs, White-rumped Sandpiper and a probable Swainson's Thrush in County Cork, Red-eyed Vireo and
Lesser Yellowlegs still in County Waterford,
Red-eyed Vireo still in County Clare,
White-rumped Sandpiper and American Golden Plover in County Kerry, and a
Buff-breasted Sandpiper in County Galway. On the Isles of Scilly an American Buff-bellied Pipit was found on St Martin's with presumably the same bird later located on St Mary's where the elusive Blue Rock Thrush, a Red-eyed Vireo, Red-backed Shrike, Dotterel and Spotted Crake were all logged, a Short-toed Lark remained on Tresco with three Wrynecks around the islands. On the Shetland Isles a Lanceolated Warbler was discovered on Whalsay, the Isabelline Wheatear remained on Out Skerries, a Black-winged Stilt was new to Fair Isle, with both Eastern Stonechat species and Pallas's Warbler present on Unst, American Golden Plover on Yell whilst around island totals including Little Bunting, Bluethroat, Great Grey Shrike, two Short-toed Larks and two Waxwings. Rarities elsewhere comprised both the Snowy Owl and Subalpine Warbler species still on the Western Isles, American Black Tern still in Dorset, Blyth's Reed Warbler still in Lothian, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk and Kentish Plover in Merseyside. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Tuesday 8th October 2019 | ||
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| Breaking news from County Kerry today of a Least Bittern found yesterday at Farranfore
although moribund and it soon died it is the first Irish record of this species. Elsewhere in Ireland in County Antrim the
Common Nighthawk showed well all day at Galgorm (were it has reportedly been present for two weeks) as
did the nearby King Eider, in County Wicklow a Chimney Swift flew over near Wicklow, the
Baltimore Oriole remained in County Mayo on Achill Island, and in County Cork discoveries included
Red-eyed Vireo at Firkeel and Semipalmated Sandpiper at The Gearagh. On the Isles of Scilly a Red-eyed Vireo was discovered on St Mary's where the Blue-winged Teal was was relocated and Blue Rock Thrush remained along with Dotterel, Red-backed Shrike and Wryneck, with a Short-toed Lark on Tresco and Red-backed Shrike on Bryher. On the Shetland Isles on Out Skerries the Isabelline Wheatear continued, on Unst an Eastern Stonechat species, Pallas's Warbler and two Coues's Arctic Redpolls were logged, on Mainland there was an Eastern Stonechat species, Olive-backed Pipit and Short-toed Lark, on Bressay a Coues's Arctic Redpoll with around island totals of American Golden Plover, Bluethroat, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Pectoral Sandpiper, Great Grey Shrike, two Little Buntings and three Waxwings. Rarities elsewhere comprised a Red-eyed Vireo still in Cornwall, Snowy Owl and Subalpine Warbler species on the Western Isles, American Black Tern still in Dorset, Blyth's Reed Warbler new in Lothian at Barns Ness, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Dusky Warbler in Norfolk, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Blue-winged Teal in Clyde, and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire. |
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| - Chris Batty, RBA | ||
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| Monday 7th October 2019 | ||
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| The highlight today was the confirmation of a Common Nighthawk at Galgorm, County Antrim. Present for three days, it has been watched feeding along the River Maine in the evenings, and identified as a Nightjar.
Other new discoveries today included an Olive-backed Pipit on Holy Island, Northumberland, a Red-throated Pipit on St Mary's, Scilly, single Dusky Warblers at Warham Greens, Norfolk and Grimston, Yorkshire (for its second day) and a Blue-winged Teal on St Agnes, Scilly. Lingering rarities included Baltimore Oriole in County Mayo, Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Blue Rock Thrush in Scilly, single Red-eyed Vireos in Cornwall and County Waterford, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Eastern Stonechat sp in Yorkshire, American Black Tern in Dorset, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire and King Eider in County Antrim. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Sunday 6th October 2019 | ||
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| Highlight of the day was the discovery of Britain's fourth Rufous-tailed Robin, in Feal Plantation on Fetlar, Shetland. It showed to just one observer for five minutes early evening, and wasn't seen again by dark. A Baltimore Oriole was discovered on Achill Island, County Mayo (the fourth for Ireland), and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo spent the afternoon at Lower Moors, Scilly. Late news from yesterday concerned the discovery of Ireland's third Black-and-white Warbler on Inishbofin, County Galway, but it wasn't seen today.
Red-eyed Vireos were found in County Clare (two at Kilbaha), Cornwall (Porthgwarra) and County Waterford (Helvick Head). Other new arrivals included single Red-flanked Bluetails in Shetland and Aberdeenshire, Isabelline Wheatear also in Shetland, Subalpine Warbler sp in Norfolk, Eastern Stonechat sp in Yorkshire, single Olive-backed Pipits in Angus and Orkney, Red-throated Pipit in Cornwall, American Black Tern in Dorset,Lesser Yellowlegs at Blennerville in Co.Kerry, King Eider in County Antrim and Ferruginous Duck in Powys. Lingering rarities seen today included Eastern Stonechat sp, Bee-eater and Semipalmated Sandpiper in Shetland, Red-flanked Bluetails in Cleveland and Fife, Greenish Warbler in Northumberland, Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll in Orkney, Kentish Plover in Merseyside, Semipalmated Sandpiper in County Wexford and Black-winged Stilt in Berkshire. |
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| - Will Soar, RBA | ||
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| Saturday 5th October 2019 | ||
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| Today's headline new discoveries comprised a Bonelli's warbler
species on Shetland, Red-flanked Bluetail on Orkney,
Dusky Warblers in Cleveland and Norfolk, Kentish Plover
in Merseyside, Lesser Yellowlegs in Co Waterford and
Long-billed Dowitcher in Argyll. Isles of Scilly continued to host the Blue Rock Thrush, as well as Ortolan Bunting, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, Spotted Crake and Wryneck, whilst the Shetland Isles produced lingering Semipalmated Sandpiper, Eastern Stonechat species, Coues's Arctic Redpoll, Bee-eater, Bluethroat, Barred Warbler, Red-backed Shrike, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, Waxwings and Lapland Buntings. Elsewhere, lingering rarities included Snowy Owl (Western Isles), Hornemann's Arctic Redpoll (Orkney), Pacific Golden Plover and Greenish Warbler (Northumberland), Red-flanked Bluetail (Fife), Long-billed Dowitcher (Devon), Semipalmated Sandpiper (Co Wexford) and Black-winged Stilt (Berkshire). The best of the rest included Pallas's Warbler (Suffolk), Rose-coloured Starling (Western Isles), Common Rosefinch (Fife), Great Grey Shrike (Northumberland), Little Bunting (Orkney), Hoopoe (Northumberland), Lesser Snow Goose (Perth & Kinross), two Pectoral Sandpipers, Spotted Crakes, Black Brants, Glossy Ibises and Shorelarks, three Barred Warblers, Wrynecks and Ring-necked Ducks, four American Golden Plovers and Richard's Pipits and five Red-breasted Flycatchers. |
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| - Stuart Piner, RBA | ||
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